System and method for playing a game

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a method of playing a game including providing at least three cups, whereby said cups are constructed and arranged to have an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an interior cavity; at least one releasing ridge within said interior cavity; a grasping ridge formed about the circumferal lip of the outer surface said cup; and a finger grip positioned on an exterior surface of said cup next to said grasping ridge; providing a receiving cup to each player, said receiving cups included in the at least three cups; designating one of said three cups as a launching cup; placing a quantity of water in the interior cavity of said launching cup; placing said launching cup in a single receiving cup; launching said water cup from said receiving cup; catching said launching cup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Outdoor games and activities at picnics, pool parties, beaches, and thelike are very popular. There is always a need to keep personsentertained with new and different games. The present invention providesfor particularly configured cups and rules for one such activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of playing agame and cups configured for the method, said method comprising thesteps of: providing at least three cups, whereby said cups areconstructed and arranged to have an exterior surface, an interiorsurface, and an interior cavity; at least one releasing ridge withinsaid interior cavity; a grasping ridge formed about the circumferal lipof the outer surface of said cup; and a finger grip positioned on anexterior surface of said cup next to said grasping ridge; providing areceiving cup to each player, said receiving cups included in the atleast three cups; designating one of said three cups as a launching cup;placing a quantity of water in the interior cavity of said launchingcup; placing said launching cup in a single receiving cup; launchingsaid water cup from said receiving cup; catching said launching cup.

The cup has at least one indicia marking a desired water level.

The indicia can be on the interior, exterior, or both.

The water cup nests within the interior cavity of said receiving cup ina configuration whereby the releasing ridge within said interior cavitycontacts the outer surface of the water cup.

In one embodiment, the water cup nests within the interior cavity ofsaid receiving cup in a configuration whereby the releasing ridge withinsaid interior cavity contacts the outer surface of the water cup and theouter surface of the water cup is blocked from contacting the innersurface of the receiving cup by the releasing ridge. The blocking ofsurface contact in the nesting configuration allows cups to easily beseparated when water cup is launched.

In one embodiment, the water cup further includes a weighted bottom.

In one embodiment, the method is also is including launching thelaunching cup from a first player to a second player; attempting tocatch the launching cup by the second player; tabulating a score basedon a successful or unsuccessful catch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view demonstrative of a launch cup aimed at a receivingcup according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a cup according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a cup according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a cup from FIG. 3 according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is demonstrative of nesting of two cups according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view demonstrating liquid fill lines according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is demonstrative of the handling and subsequent launch of a cupaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is demonstrative of a cup in motion according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 9 is demonstrative of a launch cup being received by a receivingcup according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As generally understood, the present invention involves a novel cup 10having a finger grip 12 formed thereon. Cup 10 is formed with a graspingridge 14 and releasing ridge 16. Cup 10 further includes in its centralinterior cavity at least one releasing ridge 16 associated with abottoming ledge 18. Contact ridge 20 is constructed and arranged tointeract with finger grip 12 when cups are nested as demonstrated inFIG. 5. An amount of liquid 22 is placed in the interior of cup 10, andin a preferred embodiment, a liquid fill line 24 shows the user apreferred level in which to add liquid. Liquid fill line can be one ormore lines visible on the exterior, the interior, or both interior orexterior of the cup.

When conventional cups nest, typically various physical forces hold thecups one to another and require an exertion force in order to separate.The present invention has addressed this in configuring a cupconstructed and arranged for playing the game described and enclosedherein. When two cups are in a nesting position, as demonstrated in FIG.5, one or more of releasing ridges 16 prevent the nested cup from fullycontacting the interior of the receiving cup. Because there is thisspace that limits the contact, the cups are more easily separated.

It is contemplated that each player will have a single cup. One playerwho is to start the game has a second cup nested within their receivingcup. An amount of water is placed in the nesting cup and the userlaunches the cup containing water from the receiving cup towards anopposing player. The opposing player must catch the water-containing cupwithout spilling the water. It is further contemplated that sufficientwater be placed in the water-containing cup such that, when launched,the cup remains substantially upright while in flight. As shown in FIG.1, a cup 10 with water 26 is caught by a cup 10 held by a player(directional arrows showing motion of flying cup to be caught byhand-held cup).

FIG. 4 shows the releasing ridge 16 associated with a bottoming ledge 18that will contact the outer surface of a cup nested within a hand heldcup. The releasing ridge 16 associated with a bottoming ledge 18 preventthe outer surface of the nesting cup from contacting the inner surfaceof the hand-held cup and provides a configuration that allows forrelease when the nesting cup is launched outward from the hand-held cup(nesting demonstrated in FIG. 5).

In one embodiment, not shown in the figures, the liquid level of the cupis transparent or translucent. In another embodiment, the entire cup iseither transparent or translucent.

Further contemplated in playing the game of the present invention wouldbe a cup is launched and a person who catches a cup receives a certainnumber of points. If the person attempting to catch the cup drops thecup and/or spills the water, points are subtracted.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form orembodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that thisdescription has been given only by way of example and that numerouschanges in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, includingthe combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of playing a game, said methodcomprising the steps of: providing at least three cups, whereby saidcups are constructed and arranged to have an exterior surface, aninterior surface, and an interior cavity; at least one releasing ridgewithin said interior cavity; a grasping ridge formed about thecircumferal lip of the outer surface said cup; and a finger grippositioned on an exterior surface of said cup next to said graspingridge; providing a receiving cup to each player, said receiving cupsincluded in the at least three cups; designating one of said three cupsas a launching cup; placing a quantity of water in the interior cavityof said launching cup; placing said launching cup in a single receivingcup; launching said water cup from said receiving cup; catching saidlaunching cup.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said cup has at leastone indicia marking a water level.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein saidwater cup nests within the interior cavity of said receiving cup in aconfiguration whereby the releasing ridge within said interior cavitycontacts the outer surface of the water cup.
 4. The method of claim 3wherein said water cup nests within the interior cavity of saidreceiving cup in a configuration whereby the releasing ridge within saidinterior cavity contacts the outer surface of the water cup and theouter surface of the water cup is blocked from contacting the innersurface of the receiving cup by the releasing ridge.
 5. The method ofclaim 1 wherein said water cup further includes a weighted bottom. 6.The method of claim 1 including launching the launching cup from a firstplayer to a second player; attempting to catch the launching cup by thesecond player; tabulating a score based on a successful or unsuccessfulcatch.